(A) When abandoned vehicles, trailers, boats and/or parts have been tagged and the 72-hour period has expired, and whenever abandoned vehicles, trailers, boats and/or parts are eligible for immediate removal under I.C. 9-22-1, the Town Marshal or Deputy Town Marshal may engage the services of a towing operator to remove, store and dispose of the vehicle, trailers, boats and/or parts. The charges for towing and storage of abandoned, inoperable or unlicensed vehicles, trailers, boats and/or parts removed from public or private property upon direction of the Town Marshal or Deputy Town Marshal shall not exceed the amounts specified in division (C) below.
(B) If the Town Marshal or the Deputy Town Marshal determines he or she cannot have the vehicle, trailer, boat and/or parts towed because it is not practicable to do so, or determines it is not in the best interest of the town to attempt to tow the vehicle, trailer, boat and/or parts, the owner of the vehicle, trailer, boat and/or parts, or the owner of the property on which the vehicle, trailer, boat and/or parts is parked, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100. In lieu of appearing before a court of competent jurisdiction, the person so charged may pay the fine assessed within 14 days to the Town Ordinance Violations Bureau. Upon conviction of a third or subsequent offense committed within one year after the date of the first offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than $1,000.
(C) The maximum amount that an authorized towing service may charge for hooking up, towing and removing a vehicle, trailer and/or parts under this section shall be pursuant to customary towing rates. The maximum amount that may be charged for storage of abandoned, inoperable or unlicensed vehicles, trailers and/or parts shall be pursuant to customary storage rates.
(D) Originals of the officer’s abandoned vehicle reports and all supporting documentation shall be promptly referred to and maintained as required by I.C. 9-22-1 in the office of the Clerk-Treasurer.
(Prior Code, § 92.07) (Ord. 2022-056, passed 10-17-2022) Penalty, see § 92.99